Wire-stretching device



A. JOHNSON.

wmf smelcmm; DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16. lEHi Rw m 7. m 2 H @H M m wm; mm w m m mm. m 1J P www? VL E m Mv s mJmJ o o @l NQ O @v n im. O $v\ .WHY \\N o X. Y

mr manu: rml" mamans., Munition". n. c

A. IOHNSON.

WIRE STRETCHING DEVICE.

APPucATxoN mio APR. 1s. 19u,

1 ,277,3 1 7. Patented Aug. 27, 191.8.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

A. IUHNSUN.

MRE STRETCHING DEVICE.

APPLfcATmN msn APR.16.\9|1.

1,277,317. Patented Aug.27,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f7/Marjon? 50# HoLM ma UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIoE.

ARTI-IUE JOHNSON, OF REMSEN, IOVJA.

WIRE-STRETCHING DEVICE.

Application filed April 16. 1917.

To all whom, it may concern:

e it ltnown that I, ARTHUR Joirxsox, a citizen ot' the United States` and resident of Ivelnsen, in the county Ot' Plymouth and State ot' Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Stretching Devices. ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pulling devices. and more particularly to wire stretchers, and the primary object ot' the invention is to provide a device ot' this character that is adapted to grip the wire. and aiso stretch the same to the desired tension7 the device being applicable to a 'fence post, or rigidly secured in the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher of this character that is provided with an etiicient means of attaching the same to a fence post or similar standard. said means beingr adjustable. so that the device is applicable to standards ot' various sizes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wire stretching device of this character that is provided 'with a new and novel means for gripping the wire, after the saine is stretched, so that the Wire will not be allowed to return to its original position, when the primary pulling means of the device are released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is easily and simply constructed, inexpensive to manufacture. and one which will be very eliicicnt in operation.

lith these and numerous other objects in view my invention consists of the novel 'features of construction, combination and arrangement ot' parts which will be herein-rc ferred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying.;c drawings:

Figure I is a side elevation ot the device;

Fig. a top plan view of the same applied;

Fig. 3 is a detailed side elevation of the trent end of the device:

Fig. fl is a perspective view of the gripping jaws at this end of the device;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Serial No. 162.468.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view, taken from the rear end thereof;

Fig. (3 is a detailed perspective view of the detachable gripping' means secured to the bottoni of the main traine;

Fig. T is a `horizontal section of the same. and

Fig. S is a detailed perspective of the means employed tor releasing the gripping jaws at the front end of the device.

In describingr my invention I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The numeral l desiguales as au entirety the main frame oi this device* which is substantially rectangular in shape, having trout and rear end portions il and 3, and top and bottoni portions -l and 5 respectively. This frame is formed of any desired material: preferably metal` so as to give. the requisite strength and durability to the device. The frame. l is normally disposed in upright position, and secured to the i'ront portion thereof on opposite sides of the saine are gripping jaws G, while fulcrunied to the rear edge of the rear portion 3 is an operating lever '7, which is also provided with gripping jaws S on the Opposite sides thereof., normally disposed in horizontal alineinent with the. grippingr jaws G. The jaws 6 and S are provided on opposite sides ot' the device, so as to accommodate diiierent sizes oi wire or cable. that are to be pulled, the jaws at one side, being' relatively smaller than the opposite jaws, and Athe jaws that engage the larger wire are preferably formed with supplemental grip Jing means comprising a projected serrated portion, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 oi' the drawings. For the salie of brevity I will only specifically describe one of these sets ot' jaws. as the other set is substantially like it in general detail.

The jaws at the front end of the frame l, are formed of bell crank levers '7 pivoted as shown at S. and having jaws 9 formed on the outer edges of their horizontally extending; portions. These jaw members 9 are adapted for coactiornto securely grip a Wire or cable therebetween. The outer ends of the opposite, portions of the levers 7 are connected hy coiled springs l() with the front portion 2 oi' the traine7 .so as to normally dispose the eoacting jaws .J into operative engagement. as clearly shown in Fig. l ol the drawings.

These jaws I7 are provided with releasing means. which include a pair ol' angular levers 11. mounted in braring-4 1L secured to the outer edge ot' the trout portion 2 of the frame l. one portion of one of the levers 11 extendingl therefrom as ehown at 13 to torni a handle to `operate this means. The adj-.leem uds ot' the levers 11 are connected bj' a link ll. and each ot' the levers are connected by linlis 1? with the ends of the levers T adjacent the coiled springs 10. The various parts ot' this releasing lncehanialn are normally disposed as shown in Fig. 1 oi thc drawings. and when it is desired to release the jaws C. the handle 13 is grasped and swung` upwardly, whereupon the leversl l1 will he moved. to swing the Vjaws open through their connection therewith by means oi the links1 15. This movement will be againstdie tension ot the springs 1t). and hence upon releasing.r the handle. the jaws will return to normal position.

The primary pulling means o l` this device consist of a lever T. that is fulcrumed at its lower end to the edge ot' the rear portion ot the trame 1, adjacent the hottoni of the same. This lever is Jformed in two sections. the lower section being designated by the muneral 1G. and the upper section hy the nmneral 1T. The section 1G is provided with a` projection 1S on its upper end. and the lower end of the section 17 is hii'urcated as |shown at. 1S. and adapted to coperatively ei'igage this projection. so that the two sections will be pivotally connected. and will have a limited Swinging movement with respect to each other. The jaws 8 comprise jaws 19 secured to the section 16 of the lever. and cti-acting jaws Q0 secured to the section 1T. iVhen the two seetiona of the lever 7 are disposed in alinement, the jaws 8 will he cooperatively related, but when the sections ot the lever are disposed out, o't alinement, the said jaws will he .spaced from each other. so that a wire may he easily placed between the Same. or removed therefrom. To normally hold a` wire in position lit-tween theae jaws, I have provided a Supplemental holdingr means which includes a pair ot' stripsl 21, that are slidahly mounted on the section 17. on the opposite sides thereo't. and are connected at their upper ends by a. handle 2Q. the lower ends of said strips being outwardly flared as shown at and normally disposed adjacent the opposite sidesl otthe jaws S. These. outwardly liared portion will consequently he disposed over the opposite sides ot' the. jaws in no matter what position the same are disposed. so as to securelyA hold wires positioned between said jaws into engagement; therewith. coiled sprint)r 2l connectei thc handle Land the outer edge ot the section 17 ot' the lever T, so as to normally hold these strips in operative position over the jaws. 1ty is ohvious` that to release this holdingl means. it is neeessary tontzfi-1a tplhpV halidlc. and lilt the saine against thc ten-ion of the coiled spring il. whereupon the wirty may he easily remoicd or replaced. and upon releasing the handle. the holding means will return to normal position. as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawinga. The upper .section 1T is provided with a supplemental handle'f so as to give additional leverage to the device.

To .securely connect the upright frame 1 to a tence post. or similar Standard, I have provided a laterally projectinglr arcnately curved arm 2l) provided with studs on its inner surface as shown at 2T, said arm heing .soeur-d to one side ot' the bottom portion 5 ot' the main trame. said portion or outer side thereof having alining projecting .-tuds 2S thereon. which coact with the studs "2T to securely engage the fence post or standard. Secured to the. outer end ol the arm 'lo is a correspondingly curved lever 29. which has connected therewith one end ol a chain. or other llexihle element 3U. said chain being adapted to extend around the tence post or etandard. and to be connected with the bottom portion 5 ot" the main frame. The t'ree end ot the chain 30 is adjust-ably connected with the portion 5 ot the main trame hv menne otl a sliding block 32 having a split `spaced portion 53 adapted to receive one ol' the links of the. chain 30 therebetween. This hloek is Slidably adjustable on the portion 5 ot the trame, and it is Obvious that any of the links of the chain are adapted to he connected therewith. By this means the chain may be tightened around the fence poet or standard. and upon swinging the lever 29 into position adjacent the arm 26. the device may be securely clamped to the l'ence post or standard. The outer end of the arm 2G is provided with a guide portion 35i. as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Secured to the hottom edge of the portion 5 ol the 'trame l are a pair of arcuate gripping uieu'ihers 2H. which have dove-tailed upper ends as shown at. 35. adapted to engage dove-tailed slots 36 on projecting hloeka 37 integral with the portion 5. These members :it are to securely 'fasten the traine 1 in the ground in upright position. when the device is used close to the ground, or as a pulling device for various purposes. Owing to the fact that the members 31 are detaehahle` they may be removed. when it is desired to use the device only as a wire stretcher.

In operation when it is desired to use this devi ce for stretching wire to the desired tension, the frame is positioned adjacent a fence post or similar standard, with the arm 26 in engagement therewith. When in this position the projecting studs 27 and Q8 will bite into the post, and then the lever 29 on the end of the arm 26 is swung out, and the chain swung around the post, and engaged with the block 32 on the portion 5. The lever '29 is then swung back to its original position, and locked by the member 31 whereupon the device will be securely clamped to the post, the frame being disposed upright with respect thereto.

When securely held in this position, the wire is positioned through the jaws 6 at either side of the frame, this being accomplished by grasping the handle 13, thereby swinging said jaws apart, by drawing them against the tension of the coiled springs 10 and after the wire has been placed therebetween the handle 13 is released, and the springs will return said jaws to their norl` mal position. This connection will be sufficient to securely grip the wire, and hold the same against the tension that is exerted by the main body of the wire being held in stretched position on ythe fence. To tighten the wire to the desired tension, the free end is operatively engaged by thelever 7. This is accomplished by lifting the wire holding means that is normally disposed over the jaws 8, and by swinging the upper section 1T oi said lever forwardly, out of alinement with the section 16, whereupon the jaws will be spaced apart, and the wire may be easily placed therebetween. When the wire is in position the holding means is released, and the sections of the lever are once more swung back into alinement. From this position the lever 7 may be swung rearwardly away from the frame 1, in a substantially vertical plane therewith, whereupon the free end of the wire will be pulled in that direction, and through vthe gripping jaws G at the front of said frame. The gripping jaws while holding the wire from forward movement, will not prevent the same being drawn rearwardly through movement of the lever 7. Then the lever 7 has reached the limit of its rearward movement, theV section 17 thereof is swung forwardly out of alinement with the section 16, whereupon the jaws 8 will be spaced apa-rt, and the lever may be once more returned to its original position. The holding means adjacent said lever will keep the wire positioned between the jaws, and will prevent its slipping therefrom when the lever is being returned. The gripping jaws 6 at the front of the frame will prevent the wire from returning to original position, when the free end is released from the pulling lever, consequently allowing an additional pull to be placed thereon after the, lever has been returned to its voriginal position.

This device is applicable for various other uses beside stretching wire, as the same may be employed with a cable ior pulling automobiles from mudholes, or similar purposes. When the device is used for this purpose, one end of the cable is connected with the hook 38 on the front end of the frame 1, and the cable is trained over a pulley secured to the vehicle, and run back through the gripping jaws 6 and 8 on the frame 1. The members 34 on the bottom of the frame are positioned in the ground so as to rigidi)r secure the frame in upright position, and thereupon when the device is operated as has been hereinbefore described, the free end of the cable may be pulled gradually, so as to exert considerable power on the same to accomplish the desired purpose. The pull in a device of this character is gradual, the same being intermittent due to the movement of the lever T backward or forward. The pull is exerted it is obvious only when the lever 7 is moved rearwardly, the return movement of said lever being only to give it a fresh position on the free cud ol' the wire or cable which it is engaging.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle ol operation ot' the invention together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims apended hereto.

aving fully described my invention, what, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A wire stretching device of the class described comprising a. frame, means carried thereby at one end for engaging the free end of a wire and pulling the same in one direction, a pair ot' spring tensioned gripping jaws at the other end of said frame adapted for normal continuous engagement with said wire to prevent reverse movement thereof, a pair of angular simultaneously operable levers pivoted to said end ot' the, frame, and links connecting said levers and jaws whereby the jaws are adapted to be open against spring tension upon operation of the levers.

2. A wire stretching device of the class described comprising a frame, a pair of spring tensioned wire gripping jaws at one end thereof, an operating lever formed of two pivoed seirtionsfV frulcrnmed to the otl'ier end of said frame, coacting jaws carried by Suid sections und adapted for engagement with the free end of the Wire, said j'aws being operable when the secbionsare inlined for movement from' he frame and relensable when bhe same are disalined for return movement, und Spring pressed Sliduble hol`d= ing strips slidably mounted on the upper section of said lever and noinmlly posil0 tioned adjacent the outer Sides of said jaws to hold the Wire therebetween.

In testimony whereof, I affix my eignanre hereto.

ARTHUR JOHNSON.

Copies of this patent may he obtainedl for ivley cents each, liyI addessing the "Commissioner of Patents.

' Wt'hington. D. C. 

